Thirteen persons engaged in illegal fishing apprehended by Navy

The Navy apprehended 13 persons for engaging in illegal fishing, during search operations carried out at Janasavigama in Kalpitiya and in the seas of Foul Foint in Trincomalee on 29^th June 2020.

As illegal fishing practices often causes grave damages on marine habitats that support marine life, the Sri Lanka Navy has been conducting regular patrols in prevention of such activities. Accordingly, during similar operations conducted by Naval personnel of Northwestern Naval Command in the seas off Janasavigama in Kalpitiya on 29^th June 2020, two naval craft with same number which had been fake used with 05 persons were apprehended. On the same day, naval personnel of Eastern Naval Command held 08 persons who engaged in illegal fishing using banned nets on two dinghies, during a patrol conducted in the seas off Foul Point in Trincomalee. A banned net and 12kg of illegally caught fish were also taken into naval custody.

By these two operations, 13 suspects, 01 banned net, 12kg of fish, 04 fishing craft and other fishing gear were taken into custody. The suspects are residents of Kalpitiya and Muthur areas in the ages between 22-44. These apprehended persons along with the craft, net, fish and other fishing gear were handed over to Fisheries Inspector-Kalpitiya and Assistant Director of Fisheries-Trincomalee for onward investigation.